R.A. The Rugged Man has always been known to pledge his allegiance to The Big Apple and recently, the Long Island, New York emcee did it again.
In naming his top five favorite emcees with SOHH, the rapper named seven (two spots were ties) and gave his reasons why.
For his top selection(s), R.A. had two members of the Juice Crew take the number one spot claiming that they were the most consistent and most influential.
“ACE might be the most consistent MC’s of all time,” he said. “He has been a top tier MC since the late 80’s and still is a Top tier MC today… And Tragedy isn’t as consistent as ACE album wise but is most likely the more influential and lyrical MC’s of the two. Without Tragedy NAS or Mobb Deep would not exist. He was one of the heaviest influences on the entire Queensbridge sound and not to mention one of the most lyrical MC’s on the planet since he was 14 years old.”
The rest of the top five consisted of Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh at #5, Redman at #4, Chuck D at #3 and Kool Moe Dee at #2.
R.A. The Rugged Man has worked with artists named on his top five list including Chuck D as they collaborated on the song “Enemy Nation” with Illus. He also confirmed Masta Ace as a guest on his upcoming LP Legends Never Die on the song “The Dangerous Three” with Brother Ali.
Read the full story over at SOHH.
UPDATE: R.A. The Rugged Man contacted HipHopDX to clarify that that his list is not ranked. He also said that by SOHH’s list rules, he was not to include Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane or Rakim, who are all among his favorites.
RELATED: R.A. The Rugged Man Says Priority Records Paid Him To See Psychiatrist
Bullshit list.
Where would I be without you?
my top 5:
-Biggie
-Jay-Z
-Nas
-Rakim
-Big Daddy Kane
That’s cold, son
he forgot to mention ja rule, ja rule saved the east coast from extinction back in the early 00’s so that deserves a mention..
Ja Rule was the Trinidad James of his day.
It’s Murda!
the motherfucker had hits though, don’t front
if it werent for ja rule 50 cent would never have a career
They say I walk around like I got a S on my chest, nah that’s the semi-auto in a vest on my chest.
eminem started on his emo pop rap bc ja rule made him very depressed
Night, night nigga!
Kool Moe Dee though?? lol…
fathered mad niggas.
Like AIDS
Em Pac Rakim Kane Nas
with honorable mentions to Jay and Notorious BIG
What the fuck are you trying to say, nigga?
SEXIEST RAPPERS OF ALL-TIME
1. LIL WAYNE
2. RICK ROSS (DAT ASS)
3. HOPSIN
4. FUTURE
5. CHIEF KEEF
6. SOULJA BOY
7. GUCCI MANE
8. FLO RIDA
9. BIRDMAN
10. CHRIS BROWN
I guess you’ve never seen Trinidad James. Fucking bitch nigga.
There’s a reason why restaurants have menus – to accomodate various tastes. It all comes down to who a particular person enjoys. IMO:
1) Jay-Z (arguably and objectively the greatest MC of all time).
2) Biggie (unmatched to date in terms of delivery, presence, and classic hits besides Jay-Z).
3) Scarface (the reigning King of the South – lyrical genius).
4) Kool G. Rap (father to the spit-fire flow).
5) Tupac
how the fuck can you disregard eminem?
objectively haha sorry your top five is not credible by that word
Why I ain’t get no info brackets, nigga?
how the fuck can you be both arguably and objectively the best? clown ass muhfukka
Most of Jay-Z’s album are just bragging.
Vol. 2, Vol. 3, Blueprint, Kingdom Come, Black Album – all he does is say how good he is for pretty much the whole album apart from a few tracks.
That doesn’t make you the greatest.
No Nas?
shitty list from a know body.
Top 5 are
-Eminem
-Tupac
-Jay z
-Biggie
-Nas
a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body. a know body.
If Tah and Chink was here, y’all wouldn’t be so brave. We’ll turn the lights off on niggas.
Top 5 Most Brilliant Rappers
Meek Mill
Memphis Bleek
The Guy With Down Syndrome From MOP
Ace Hood
MC Serch
You forgot Trinidad James. Bitch nigga.
My top 5 in no rank:
Biggie
Tupac
Eminem
Nas
Game (Gonna prob get hate for this! but he’s my fav rapper, guy has got 2 Great (debatably classic) albums in Documentary and Doctors Advocate and two Brilliant Albums (but not classics) in LAX and Jesus Piece, RED album was his worse and is still better than most. Give the guy credit he’s a sick flow, top lyrics (not the best but still excellent), can bring passion and ferocity to the Mic, his only real pitfall is the number of features he has on his album … plus he lacks radio hits which means his sales are low then again don’t care about these shitty pop hits anyway and would never want him to go in that direction
Game and Black Hippy only rappers that I rate atm! Big up the West
You want objectivity with regards to a rapper’s technical ability… well here’s the sweet science.> http://rapgenius.com/posts/1669-The-rapper-s-flow-encyclopedia
Jay Z is the GOAT… Drake is 2nd…. Then Bizzy Bone…4 is Joe Budden… and 5 spot goes to Jada Kiss. Honorable mention.. Krayzie Bone
Mentioning Drake in the same breath as those others on your list is ridiculous. I could name at least 50 off the top of my head that are miles ahead of Drake
These are the top 5 emcees. It’s not a matter of opinion. It’s just fact.
1) Eminem
2) Jay Z
3) Royce Da 6’3”
4) Andre 3000
5) Big L
royce da 6’3?
Eminem lol.
Ja Rule
Cadillac Tah
Chink Santana
Charli Baltimore
Ashanti
It’s Murda!
Tupac over everybody.
2pac overated
Black thought
Em
Nas
Guru
Odrama Vin Laden & Jus Allah
1: Nas
2: Slim Shady
3: Notorious B.I.G.
4: Kanye West
5: Tech N9ne
6: Chamillionaire
7: Busta Rhymes
8: Slim Thug
9: Snoop Dogg
10: 2Pac
if you got any negative comments on my list I don’t wanna hear them.
Well you should cause you got a wack ass list.
Tech N9ne??? Chamillionaire??? Slim Thug??? hahahahahahahahahah. Those dudes are wack as fuck
Good list Tech & Cham are underrated as hell
1.Big Daddy Kane tie Rakim
2.Jay-Z
3. Notorious Big
4. Krs 1 tie Nas
5. MF Doom tie Tupac
If they tie, you can’t add extra dudes to your list and end up with 8.
Nasjavascript:void(null)
Jay Elec
Meth
DMX (Raw as fuark)
Blu
Honorable Mentions to Kanye, Lupe, Elzhi (have yet to hear a weak bar from him) & Eminem
1.Nas
2.Eminem
3. 2Pac
4. Biggie
5.The Game
TOP 5 BABBBY
1.Nas
2.Ghostface
3.Mos DEF Aka Yasiin Bey
4.Scarface
5.Common
Honorable Mentions Raekwon , Talib Kweli
1. 2Pac
2. Nas
3. Big L
4. Biggie
5. Kool G Rap
6. Ice Cube
7. Rakim
8. Big Daddy Kane
9. Big Pun
10.Canibus
I agree with a lot of your list, just not the order.
1. Canibus
2. Big Pun
3. Biggie
4. Nas
5. Kool G. Rap
6. Ghostface
7. Big L.
8. Rakim
9. GZA
10. Killah Priest (Listen to his new double album)
Honorable mention – Tupac, Eminem, Big Daddy Kane, Jay-z, Black Thought, Jeru, Redman, Prodigy, Scarface, Apathy, Del tha Funkee Homosapien
Nas at #2? lol Try an unbiased list next time.
5.Nas
4.RZA
3.Pac
2.B.I.G.
1.Big L
Honorable Mentions: Eminem, Method Man, Hi Rez, Big Pun, and Logic
1. Ashanti
2. Bieber
3. Eminem
4. Macklemore
5. Drake
6. Gucci Mane
7. Jay-Z
8. Wacka Flocka
9. Lil Wayne
10. Kanye West/Project Pat (couldn’t decide)
I just had to comment on this cuz this is the wackest troll ive seen in my entire life b!
1. Scarface
2. Z-ro
3. Nas
4. Biggie
5. 2pac
zro better than pac nas and biggie HAHAHAH
R.A THE RUGGED MAN IS BY FAR THE BEST HIP HOP ARTIST IVE EVER HERD SO NASTY MUCH RESPECT R.A
1. Rakim
2. Nas
3. GZA
4. Masta Ace
5. eLZhi
I could also add RZA, ODB, Big Pun, Big L, Biggie, Pac, and a handful of others (Big Daddy Kane, Guru, etc.). Maybe throw in KRS One too. Maybe a tad farther down the list would be guys like Apathy, Black Milk and BIG KRIT, since they are on their way to becoming all time greats.
ELZHI!!!! Dude is hella underrated. I can’t wait til he drops his next joint.
You on Elzhi’s nuts. He’s not that good. Wait till he has a better discography. One hot album doesn’t make him top 5
I put eLZhi on there because I see him as a unique talent that is on the level of these other guys as a lyricist and an artist, its not a matter of discography in his case.
im with you man..elzhi’s on my top 5…and buddy, hes dropped a lot of hot shit actuall..the preface, witness my growth, the leftovers, and elmatic…plus most people dont even want him on their album for the sole fact that they dont want a silver or bronze medal
1. Biggie
2. Rakim
3. Krs one
4. Nas
5. Jay z
6. 2pac
7. ll cool j
8. Scarface
9. Ice cube
10. Koop g rap
11. Big daddy Kane
12. Masta ace
13. Az
14. Gza
15. Slick rick
16. Chuck d
17. Jeru the damaja
18. Big l
19. Guru
20. Big punisher
21. Redman
22. Black thought
23. Prodigy
24. Eminem
25. Canibus
Honourable mention. Tragedy khadafi, q tip, cormega, lauryn hill, Kool moe dee etc
Canibus? Fuck out of here.
Canibus should be higher than that actually. Nice list though…
I agree with a lotta this but big l is def higher. he revolutionized the punchline game which lil wayne later progressed during his mid 2000s mixtape run into what eventually kendrick and hella big names in the industry now use_
also where is big pun… that’s foolish
o actuallly just saw punisher, ur list is dope
No one has a better combination of flow, lyrics, creativity and punchlines than Eminem. Name any rapper’s best verse and I’ll find 10 eminem verses that are better.
#GOAT
In his prime he was the greatest to ever do it, but then he fell off. So if we’re talking consistency as well, he might not be the best
R.A actually has a better verse than Em has ever spit on UNCOMMON VALOR.
bet 5 dollars erod86 is a white boy, ridin diks!
2 bad no one gives a fuck about RA’s rhymes… we talkin about rap here baby,not encyclopedias…
I agree, that verse on Uncommon Valor was absolutely mind-blowing
1. Ghostface Killah (best discography of all time)
2. Eminem
3. Nas
4. Black Thought (most underrated of all time)
5. Jay-Z
If Ghostface is on any list Raekwon better be above it cause buddy had the hardest verses in all of wu
GZA has the beats
RZA has the brains (and acting, his new movie was sick)
meth n red have the best songs (oh, How High was great too)
raekwon has the lyrics
ghostface is the most versaitle, he can do it all
Kendrick all day motherfuckers. Not the best yet, but he’ll be top 5 in a few years.
Watching fools online argue with each other about their opinions is amusing. I’d list my top 5 but on second thought I’d rather not argue with egomaniacs about the music I choose to listen to. RA’s list was cool tho
TOP 5
-BABY FARTS
-RIPE KUMQUATS
-DINGLE BERRIES
-ALF
-GILBERT GODFREY
Fuck yall niggaz my list is the best you got my man HOV in first and after that you got B.I.G after DMX Ja Rule and my nigga Jeezy
A dope MC will never mention a MC that is better then himself.
irrelevent ass nigga mentions more irrelecent niggas. The real. top 5 are
1)Drake
2)Kendrick
3)Jcole
4)Cudi(once he drops his albun he will rise)
5)Asap Rocky
maybe your top 5 yea..definitely not factual at all….these are just the mainstream rappers that get airplay..i could name at least 20 rappers without much hesitation that would absolutely KILL these guys if they laid down verses for the same song…oh, and kendricks not THAT good eevrybody..i like that he uses lyricism but hes got A LOT of work to do before he reaches his hero Nasty Nas
1. Future
2. 2 Chainz
3. Nicki Minaj
4. Kanye West(when IAMGOD drops)
5. Chris Brown
if kanye would have either stayed at the same pace or gotten better after late registration i would agree…but he gotten considerably worse..MBTF was horrawful, graduation day was equally bad, and watch the throne should have been much better ( cant lie, i digged otis)
1 Paris Hilton
2 Soulja Boi
3 Justin beeper
4 Chris brown
5 Tim Mcgraw
1. Nas
2. Z-Ro
3. Elzhi
4. tech n9ne
5. Sean Price
btw this is my opinion
Hhaah you niggas make me laugh… Forgetting to put weezy in the top five, its like you just forget what he did earlier in his career and how much he dominated the game. Sure he fell off cuz he said it himself he dont like to rap no more but god damn no other rapper has done what hes done, he holds all the records.
fucking fags
Man this is the real top 5
1. 2pac
2. Nas
3. Immoral Technique
4. AZ (most underrated)
5. Kool G Rap (most underappreciated)
wow somebody finally put Redman in their top 5…i thought eminem was the only…redman is too raw
My Top 20
1. atmosphere (slug)
2. mac lethal
3. immortal technique
4. mars ill (manchild)
5. eminem
6. eyedea (RIP)
7. Aesop Rock
8. Notorious Big (RIP)
9. MF Doom
10. Vinnie Paz
11. 2pac (RIP)
12. Mr. Lif
13. Guru (RIP)
14. eCID
15. Asher Roth
16. Wax
17. Tonedeff
18. Talib Kweli
19. The Grouch
20. Big Pun (RIP)
ur list is irelevant…there is not enough underground in there
haha right man, too much mainstream in there, wht are you rhinking
Ecid from MN?? Or another Ecid?? I just played a show with him. He’s creative, and talented no doubt but, he can’t put a show together. Place was dead.
Thats why it MY list not top underground rappers, and what do you consider underground? Independent? What they don’t place on radio? so your comment is irrelevant.
And yes i am talking about ecid from MN. Yeah his concerts arent the best.
nas so lyrical just look at his resume illmatic lost tapes stillmatic gods son life is good he still rhymes as good now as when he came out
eminem insane wordplay flow just destroys beats all the time
jadakiss ive never heard a bad verse from him so dope
ghostface killah best discography ever all his albums are quality
styles p hardest out ghost in the shell and ghost in the machine 2 the greatest mixtapes ever and gangster and a gentleman classic
here’s the real Top5 …based on the things these cats did in hiphop (lyrics 2)
1.Eminem
2.2pac
3.Biggie
4.Nas
5.Jay Z
1. Nas
2. MF Doom
3. Common
4. Ice Cube
5. Ghostface/Raekwon (tie)
In random order:
-LL Cool J
-Redman
-Eminem
-Biggie
-Rev Run
-KRS-One
-Busta Rhymes
-Jadakiss
-Jay-Z
-Del The Funkee Homosapien
Why? Because for me it is important to be MC, not a rapper. Its not only about technique, it is about charisma.
1. Jay Z
2. OutKast
3. Kanye West
4. J Cole
5. Pac and Biggie (tie)
You don’t think its a little early to be putting J Cole that high?
10.Talib Kweli
9. Lauryn Hill
8.KRS-ONE/Big Daddy Kane
7.Kool G Rap
6.Masta Ace
5.Andre 3000
4.Rakim
3.Big Pun
2.Redman
1.Nas
Nice to see an ill mc with a legitimate top 5 instead os all these dumbfucks with the same lists.
Most of the people who comment on the site are still students and don’t understand hiphop. There is a hugh misconception between people’s favourite top 5 and the top 5 emcees of all time. A lot of you children who misunderstand judge the top rappers on how much money they’re making, how many albums they have, if they’re current, their age and other irrelevance.
If you have a top favourite then that’s cool because you like who you like, whether the rapper is wack or not, but the top emcees of all time are the ones who stood for something great as lyrically talented emcees who stuck to the script of the true essence of the artform and culture of hiphop and also updated their formula within the times. This doesn’t mean the emcee should be talking about, how much money they make, hoes and materialism.
Its about blessing us with the journey they’ve been through as an artists and expressing situations who made them who they are today. So you can’t compare your own personal top rappers to the best of all time.
Redman over Method??? hmmm… I don’t know about that.
lol @ Masta Ace being a top tier emcee. I like him, but he sounds dated sometimes
To be fair, everyone sounds dated when you’re 12 so…
A lot of people don’t realise that on this list he has to leave out 10 rappers. R.a has always said biggie is the greatest emcee. On sohh they ask you to say a top 5 without mentioning biggie, PAC, jay z, Kool g rap, big daddy Kane, Nas, ice cube, eminem, rakim, krs one and scarface.
That’s why none of the above are on his list. Like I said he has always said biggie is his favourite emcee.
My list
1. Biggie
2. Rakim
3. Krs one
4. Nas
5. Jay z
6. 2pac
7. ll cool j
8. Scarface
9. Ice cube
10. Koop g rap
11. Big daddy Kane
12. Masta ace
13. Az
14. Gza
15. Slick rick
16. Chuck d
17. Jeru the damaja
18. Big l
19. Guru
20. Big punisher
21. Redman
22. Black thought
23. Prodigy
24. Eminem
25. Canibus
Honourable mention. Tragedy khadafi, q tip, cormega, lauryn hill, Kool moe dee, queen latifah, meth, ghost, rae, d.o.c, etc
Thanks for clearing that up about the ten he can’t say, that makes his list a lot more realistic and respectable. Seems like a very important bit of info though, wonder why it doesn’t say that in the article
I forgot Andre 3000. Put him at number 20.
1. Canibus(come on, give the man his props)
2. Biggie
3. Big Pun
4. Big L
5. R.A.
Ok, here’s his props: he was ill for 3 years…15 years ago
1. Akala
2. Mystro
3. Dizzee Rascal
4. Plan B
5. Wiley
loool plan b???
Real UK List:
1. Akala
2. G Frsh
3. Krept & Konan
4. Kano
5. Skepta
6. Chip
7. The Streets
WHY IRRELEVANT RAPPERS LIKE THIS ONE HERE EVEN MAKE THEIR TOP 5? AFTER THE COVER OF LEGENDARY CLASSICS NOBODY TAKES HIM SERIOUSLY.
Ja Rule should be #1 on his list.
Kool G Rap
Big L
Raekwon
KRS-One
Nas
Papoose
Nas
Ghostface killah
Redman
Tragedy khadafi
Styles p and jadakiss
Big pun
Canibus
DMX
Eminem
1 – Young Jeezy
2 – Big K.R.I.T.
3 – Gucci Mane
4 – Plies
5 – Scarface
Don’t get high off your own supply boi
Come on man, How’d you forget Andre 3000, Big Boi, T.I., Bun B, Killa Mike & B.o.B?
MY TOP MC’S IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:
RAKIM
2PAC
EMINEM
THE D.O.C
LL COOL J
BIG DADDY KANE
KRS-ONE
KOOL G. RAP
SLICK RICK
RUN DMC
KOOL MOE DEE
CHUCK D
GURU
NAS
BIGGIE
JAY-Z
METHOD MAN
DMX
JADAKISS
BIG L
BIG PUN
GZA
RAEKWON
GHOSTFACE KILLA
EPMD
MOBB DEEP
AZ
ICE CUBE
MC REN
DJ QUIK
E40
SPICE 1
SNOOP
XZIBIT
MACK 10
GAME
PARIS
RAS KASS
SCARFACE
ANDRE 3000
EIGHTBALL
BUN B
T.I.
LUDACRIS
BIG BOI
BIG MIKE
THE CLIPSE
KILLER MIKE
CHAMILLIONAIRE
BUSTA RHYMES
REDMAN
TWISTA
ROYCE DA 5’9″
OBIE TRICE
TECH 9
COMMON
MOS DEF
TALIB KWELI
KANYE WEST
BLACK THOUGHT
MASTA ACE
CANNIBUS
KEITH MURRY
JERU THE DAMAJA
IMORTAL TECHNIQUE
MC LYTE
LAURYN HILL
QUEEN LATIFAH
MISSY ELLIOTT
LIL KIM
FOXY BROWN
BOSS
DA BRAT
MS. JADE
SHAWNNA
EVE
JEAN GRAE
RAH DIGGA
LADY OF RAGE
MIA X
REMY MA
CONSCIOUS DAUGHTERS
OH YEAH, & LUPE FIASCO
Be paid weekly and earn like a boss! I got a gorgeous Fiat Multipla from earning $5435 this past 4 weeks and a little over $10k last month. Its by far the easiest and without any doubt the most financially rewarding job I’ve ever had. I actually started 8 months ago, and practically, straight away got at least $81p/h! This is what I do,, Wow55.com
Jehst
Ramson Badbonez
SonnyJim
Verb T
Kashmere
Klashnekoff
C Mone
Lewis Parker
Loudmouth
Micall Parknsun
Sir Smurf Lil’
Task Force
Demon Boyz
Gunshot
My top 5 :
Eminem
2pac
nas
biggie
immortal
Smh ppl leaving out Lupe.
Lupe is a dope MC and used to be my favorite rapper, but in order for him to be considered one of the greats he has to start being more consistent with his albums and rap over beats that fit him better. He’s currently 2 out of 4 so he’s still has to prove himself IMO.
It seems as if Lupe garners little respect among his peers, not really surprising considering his prepubescent rants and constant bitch fits.
1. Ja rule
2. Ja rule
3. Ja rule
4. Ja rule
5. ja rule
– EMINEM
– Kendrick Lamar
– Ab-Soul
– Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
– Wu-Tang Clan
1. Lil Wayne
2. Drake
3. Future
4. Lil B
5. Trinidad James
Runners up: Bow Wow, Lil Twist, Chief Keef
You mean to say, The Fakest?
chief keef lil b and trinidad are real rest are fake
And that’s real…
This dude only stays on the underground artists like himself. Hows he not gonna mention Pac Eminem and Nas wtf???? Tech nine?? rino?? canibus or big l??? Dudes always jealous of eminem too RA is a pretty good rapper tho
DYLAN..DYLAN..DYLAN..DYLAN DYLAN..LOL WTF DOES A JEW FROM RICH ISLAND KNOW ABOUT HIP HOP..TRU WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT OPINIONS JUST LIKE ASSHOLES WE ALL GOTEM
Isn’t Drake who most people say is the number one rapper in the game Jewish? I think he is.
What does religion have anything to do with rap?
Andre 3000
Pharoahe Monch
Eminem
Tech N9ne
Nas
Fuck with it
Pac
Ghostface
Scarface
Big L
Big Pun
Biggie
Big Daddy Kane
Andre 3K
Eminem
Nas
Jay Z
Cube
“Most of Jay-Z’s album are just bragging”
Most of 50 Cent’s albums are about him bragging.
Top 5 Most Inspirational Rappers:
Grand Master B
Jeffrey Atkins
Diggy
Snow
YBT
All my favorite rappaz are black #JustSayin
Rick Ross Projects
Port of Miami: 8.5/10
Trilla: 9/10
Deeper Than Rap: 8/10
Albert Anastasia EP: 10/10
Teflon Don: 10/10
Ashes To Ashes: 7.5/10
Rich Forever: 10/10
God Forgives, I Dont: 9/10
Black Bar Mitzvah: 7/10
50 has ONE album over 8/10 (grodt)
Bawse!!!!!!!!
Top 5 Better Rappers Than 50 Cent:
Meek Mill
Rick Ross
Ja Rule
Willow Smith
Val Kilmer
DRAKE
DRAKE
DRAKE
AUBREY GRAHAM
DRAKE
What about Champagne Papi?
Tech N9ne
Chino XL
Eminem
R.A. The Rugged Man
Nas
Tupac
Pharoahe Monche
Z-Ro tha Crooked
Swoope
fuck a list music is personal
still gotta be real rap music tho
no ja rule on there?? get the fuck out here cracka!
tellem son!
–
1. Ja rule
2. Ja rule
3. Ja rule
4. Ja rule
5. Ja rule
Styles P ft Redman and Method Man – I Get High Remix
The Top Five Most Gifted Rappers:
Blazhay Blazhay
Ernie Reynes Jr.
Anyone Associated With Mr. Atkins
Rampage
Tommy Lee
Who the F is RA the rugged? man wtf?
lol really ?? you sleepin